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Monday, January 16, 2017

Love the Lord your God ♡

and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:

this is the first commandment. "

* Mark 12:30 *

33 years ago on January 21 at the age of 25,

I trusted in Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.On that day, He became the Lord of my life. I knew I was a sinner and came short of the glory of God. *Romans 3:23*I acknowledged that the wages of sin was death, but the gift of God was eternal life through Jesus Christ. *Romans 6:23 *I acknowledged that while I was a sinner Christ died for me. *Romans 5:8*I confessed with my mouth, believed in my heart and called uponthe name of the Lord, and was saved by God's grace. *Romans 10:9&13*It was a day I shall never forget, a day when the burden of my sin was lifted. The love of God was the leading grace in my renewed soul. ******As I began to grow in my relationship with Lord,I longed to have a deeper knowledge and understandingof who God was.I can remember wanting to read and read the Scriptures,and as I read I had question after question,oh there was so much I wanted to learn in a big hurry.I wanted to know Him through His Word, so I followed the instructionsfound in Joshua, a verse I came across early in my walk of faith."This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth:but thou shalt meditate therein day and night." *Joshua 1:8a*To meditate involves thinking and living."I have chosen the way of the truth;thy judgments have I laid before me." *Psalms 119:30*I knew that as I took the time to meditate on God's Wordit would increase my understanding.There were times I would challenge myself to memorize chapters at a time.That was one of the best things I did for myself,in fact, I have picked it back up, because as I ageI'm finding my memory needs it.I began to realize that the more I saw the Lord in His Word,the more I loved Him.The Pharisees studied the Word, but they failed to see the Lord in it.My desire was to be like Paul~ "That I may know Him." *Philippians 3:10*

After a couple of years into my walk with the Lord I came across verse 30 of chapter 12 in the book of Mark ,which became my life verse."And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength, this is the first commandment. "When I found this verse I fell in love with it!I said to myself, "that is your whole being, Debbie."Verse 29 tells us that " The Lord our God is one Lord."If I was going to believe that truth, then it was sure to followthat I was going to love Him with all of my heart.He is my God, therefore, I ought to love Him,to set my affections on Him, and delight in Him.He is one Lord, therefore, my desire is to love Him whole heatedly.

In the years I have known and walked with my Jesus,He has proven that He is for me by His unfailing loveand personal involvement in my life.His grace and presence has been enough for my every need,every trial, in any circumstance. He is my all-sufficient, all-powerful, all-loving, all-sovereign God.As a child of God, my life is blessed.I know that I will continually receive His limitless love, His immeasurable grace and His boundless power.May the joy in my heart be the sign that God is everything to me!"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lordso walk ye in Him.Rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith,as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."* Colossians 2:6-7 * What a glorious promise. My spiritual birthday wish is that I will so walk in Him,and become more like Him, until the day I meet God face to face.

Precious Heavenly Father~I praise You for my salvation, and thank You, that You were willingto give up Your Son for my redemption.Guard my heart, increase my faithand mold me into the image of Christ.Amen.To God be the Glory!~ Debbie ~

What a beautiful post commemorating your spiritual birthday. I also remember mine... July 9, 1989...but not nearly as beautifully illustrated as yours. Sometimes it takes darkness to begin to see the light! Wonderful post, Debbie! Much love & hugs :)

Well, happy Re-birthday on the 21st Debbie! Your thoughts were such an amazing testimony of your love for the Lord! I was just thinking today, that no matter what I do, God's love for me never falters, never! His Presence is always here and I can go to Him anytime, anyday, anyway even if it is just to sit before Him in awe!My thoughts have been so deep these days. I guess with each passing birthday, I realize how blessed I am that God has been at my side through the thick and thin! How marvelous! God bless you, Ginny

What a wonderful post, dear Debbie, in celebrating you Spiritual Birthday. You are such a life long learner in you spiritual growth, and I so admire you for that. Congratulations on the blessed event, and thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom with us. Love and blessings to you.

This is the most beautiful post that I have read of yours. You shared yourself with us. There is NOTHING more important than the WORD! Memorizing it is the best way to make it a part of your being and daily life. You are such an inspiration with every blog. You radiate the love of Christ and that is so special . Hugs.

That I may know Him! I can hardly read those words without breaking down crying. I stood in front of those I faithfully ministered to around the first of January 2011, and I spoke those words. It was my new years resolution that year...to KNOW CHRIST. Even though I had "known" Him for years and served Him with all my heart, I wanted to know...really know Jesus. Oh, the journey that has followed that burning, yearning desire! After a particularly painful part of the process, I drove down the road one evening in tears. My heart was broken, heavy, anguished, as I looked up into the beautiful, evening sky. It seemed I felt Jesus Himself slip into the front seat beside me, as I heard His precious, still, small voice ask the question that nearly stopped me in my tracks, "NOW, do you know Me?" Oh, the tears flowed even harder as I answered, "YES, Lord, I know You!!" To know Christ. I do not regret one moment I have spent coming to know Him more intimately...for to get to know Him better, do we not have to suffer with Him? To learn Who He really is, do we not have to experience just a small taste of what He went through? It is all part of the process, and it is so worth it all. Thank you for your sweet testimony, dear Debbie! Happy spiritual birthday!! May the years ahead find you ever knowing Him more!!

What a beautiful post of 33 years of walking with the Lord. It is such a wonderful thing to look back through the years and see how God has changed us and transformed us into His vision for us. Have a blessed day.

Awww... what a beautiful post! Truly, your hearts desire for the Lord could be "felt" and "seen" through your words. I am SO THANKFUL you and Dad accepted the Lord as your personal Savior because I had the joy, privilege, and blessing of growing up in a Christian home. I am so grateful for my Christian heritage.

I still think upon the MANY times I saw you sitting alone studying God's Word...it's what I grew up with and it's something that has stayed with me all these years. As a young child tou were a testimony to me and now I want to be that very same testimony to my son and family. And you remain a testimony to me as you continue to walk with Jesus. Oh, the love of God that radiates from you is truly amazing and a beautiful thing.

I am also thankful for the morning devotions that you faithfully did with Dawn and me. God's Word does not return void and I still remember the Scriptures and topics we studied.

You are a blessing and shining light to all and I am ever so thankful for you. May you continue to grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Happy Spiritual Birthday, Mom! Love you!

Awe Sweet lady, I have surely enjoyed this post. Melted my heart. I too love that verse in Mark. Matter of fact the Bible Study that I am teaching this season (beginning tonight) is the Study of Mark....the Jesus we are aching for. Love reading this. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

Happy 33rd Spiritual Birthday! My heart was deeply touched and moved as I read how you came to know the Lord Jesus, and what that meant to your life! I too, at the tender young age of 5 was born into the kingdom of the Lord, and many times I remember reading the Word and just wishing I could memorize it all, and never forget each word. I just wanted to soak it all up and know it all. But as you wrote, we can't just "know" the Word, we have to know the Lord too. What a precious and amazing strength and power comes when we have both his Word and His spirit in our hearts!

The precious way you shared of what the Lord means to you resonates deeply within my heart, and I rejoice with you for all those wonderful years of serving and knowing our precious Lord. The pictures you shared are so gentle and peaceful, and I could feel the love and thought you put into taking each one.

This post encouraged my heart today, just hearing your testimony of your walk with the Lord, and how precious it is. Praising the Lord with you for all His goodness in our lives! Hugs to you today dear friend!

Your words a true encouragement to my heart today... How I long to know my precious Saviour, Jesus Christ, more and more fully... I love the Scripture you shared and the story you told of your salvation...what a blessing! I am so glad I stopped by... May the Lord continue to direct your path and fill you with His wonderful Joy!With love and blessings in Him,Kelly-Anne

My friend, I almost cried reading this post! I could feel the emotion gripping my heart. Praise the Lord for his everlasting mercy and for his relentless compassion toward those he loves! I am eternally grateful that God saved you and made us sisters-in-Christ! {{hugs}}

I don't remember the exact date but my spiritual birthday is in January too, 32 years ago. And I thank you for the encouragement I've been reading in these past few posts of yours Debbie. I am longing for a closer walk too. My eyes have been too much on worldly cares and worries lately, and I need to more fully turn my eyes upon Jesus, and the things of the world will grow strangely dim, as the hymn says. xo Deborah

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Hi, I'm Debbie! My heart is blessed to have you here!

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And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. -Colossians 3:15-17

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